Christian Coalition sued - political campaign assistance

Christian Century, August 14, 1996

Russell asserted in a statement released August 4 that Reed "has always insisted that [the] Christian Coalition strictly adhere to the law. Reed has instructed Christian Coalition employees, including its chief financial officer, to comply with the law in every respect, including filing accurate federal tax returns listing contributors where appropriate." Russell also argued that Wolfe's letter reflected a misunderstanding of the organization's activities. He said Wolfe was contacted about the misunderstanding, asked if he wished to withdraw his donation, and must have said no.

Liebert, who was the coalition's financial officer for four years, was suspended with pay June 1 from her $85,000-a-year job, after bringing complaints about the organization's financial dealings before the U.S. attorney's office in Norfolk, Virginia. Liebert's attorney, Moody Stallings, was a Democratic state senator in Virginia in 1991, when the coalition helped his Republican opponent unseat him.

The first reports of Liebert's disclosures involved alleged irregularities in the billing practices of Hart Conover, a direct-mail firm in Alexandria, Virginia. The company has done millions of dollars of business with the coalition. Mike Russell said July 22 that the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand has been given "full authority" to investigate Hart Conover on behalf of the coalition. Benjamin Hart, Hart Conover president, has described Ralph Reed as a close friend and frequent golf partner.